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Reducing Percutaneous Injuries in the OR by Educational Methods
Author(s) -
Holodnick Cherie L.,
Barkauskas Violet H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/s0001-2092(06)61278-7
Subject(s) - medicine , personal protective equipment , occupational exposure , occupational injury , percutaneous , incidence (geometry) , occupational safety and health , health care , medical emergency , intervention (counseling) , disease , environmental health , injury prevention , nursing , surgery , poison control , pathology , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , physics , optics , economics , economic growth
ABSTRACT Exposure to bloodborne pathogens (eg, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C) through percutaneous injuries is an occupational risk for health care workers, especially those in the OR. The incidence of disease continues to rise, although occupational exposures often go unreported. Percutaneous injury prevention methods have included use of safety devices, practice changes, and educational programs. An educational intervention to increase awareness of risk, provide suggestions for injury reduction, and encourage reporting of exposures was performed at a university teaching hospital. Preliminary qualitative results show increased exposure reporting, increased use of personal protective equipment, and increased awareness of disease exposure risk among OR personnel. AORN J72 (Sept 2000) 461–476